Cord-knotter for grain-binders



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Q A. STARK. 00m) KNOTTER FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

No. 465,436. Patnted'Deo. 15,1891.

Jew/(i017 MW 23PM wiamiw (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- A. STARK.

CORD KNOTTER FOR GRAIN'BINDERS.

' Patented Dec. 15,1891.-

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

A. STARK. 00m) KNOTTER FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

No, 465,436. Patented Dec; 15, 1891.

(No Model.) 5'Sh eetsSheet 4.

A. STARK. GQRD KNOTTER FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

No. 465,436. Patented Dec. 15, 1891.

m: mm! PETlns 20., ENQTD-UTHIL, wuumamu, n. c.

(No Model.) 5 sheets s heet 5.

A. STARK. CORD KNOTTER FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

Patented Dec. 15, 1891.-

r w w W ANDREXY STARK,

OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

CORD-KNOTTER FOR GRAIN-BINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,436, dated December15, 1891.

Application filed April 27, 1891. Serial No. 390,537. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW STARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago,

county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have in vented certain new anduseful Improvements in Oord-Knotters for Grain-Binders, which is fullyset forth in the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved knotter,showing the parts in the position of rest. Fig. 2 is a rear elevationwith the driving-wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section at theplane indicated by the line 3 3 on Fig. 1, showing the parts in the sameposition shown in Fig. 1, the clamp being broken and shown in section,as at the broken line a: so on Fig. 12. Fig. 4 is a sectional View atthe same plane as Fig. 3, the clamp being similarly shown, showing theparts in the position occupied after the knotter has made aboutfive-eighths of a revolution. Fig. 5 is a similarview showing the partsat the position occupied at the instant the cord is severed, theknotter-bill having reached the position of rest. Fig. 6 is a top planof the breast'plat'e. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the same. Fig.8 is asection at the line 8 8 on Fig. 1.. Fig. 9 is a bottom plan of the cordholder and cutter. Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional detail showing thecontour of the marginal boundary of the cord-slot in its relation to thebill, section being made at the line 10 10 on Figs. 3 and 6, the knotterbeing shown in the position of rest. Fig. 11 is a similar view, theknotter-bill being shown in the position in which it appears in Fig. 4.Fig. 12 is a plan of a blank from which the holder-clamp is formed. Fig.13 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the needle and the needle orspool cord, the posit-ion of parts being justas the needle comes home.Fig. 1a is a vertical sectional elevation looking outward, section beingmade at the plane of the line 14 1e on Fig. 1. Fig. 15isa section attheline 15 15 on Fig. 6. Fig. 16 is a horizontal detail section at the line16 16 on Fig. 14.

A is the breast-plate.

Bis the knotter-fraine secured to the breastplate by the bolts 1),through the foot-flange b of said frame.

F is a double cord-cutter havingaknife F to co -operate with each of theholder-segments E, said knives being formed upon the upturned ends of across bar or plate f, which unites them, said plate extending under theholder and being retained on the spindle of the holder by the nut fbelow the bar f. The cord-cutter is rotated by and with theholder-segments, said segments being provided each with thedownwardly-projecting stud or stop c which engages the edges of thecutter and thereby drive it with the said segments.

G G2 are bundle-strippers-that is, arms which tend to strip the bundleoff of the ejectors and prevent its being carried up around the shaft.They are formed of metal rods, each of which is bent near the end toform an offset or shoulder g, and are thereby adapted to be connected tothe breast-plate as strippers, and the end g of the rod G,

which is bent at right angles, is inserted through the lug B on the topof the frame B, and the corresponding end of the other rod G is formedwith an eye 9 which receives the laterally-bent end g of the first rodG, and a nut applied on said end outside the eye fastens them togetherand to the lug B. The upstanding flange A of the breast-plate tends toprevent the said arms from being crowded together by the action of thegrain, while the overhanging portion of said flange, forming the seatproper, holds the arms down in proper position.

H is the needle or binder arm. It has the guide-eyes H, 1-1 and 1-1 forthe bindingcord. The first of said guide-eyes is located as near aspossible to the hub or axis of the needle, and the last is the finaleye, and the one commonly referred to as simply the eye of the needle.

11 is a guide-eye for the cord on a fixed part of the frame, being thelast guide before the cord enters the needle.

The breast-plate A has the cord-slot A which, at a little distance fromthe axis of the bill, is deflected toward the vertical plane of thataxis and extends to the opposite side of said plane and is againdeflected back to substantially its original plane, the doubledeflectedportion A bounding thus a finger A which is hereinafter named the cordarresting finger.. The upper surface of that portion of the breast-platewhich would be out 01f by a line commencing where the deflection of theslot commences and extending in the original direction of the forwardedge of the slot and including, therefore, the cordarresting finger A ispreferably elevated above the general plane of the upper surface of thebreast-plate, as illustrated, so thatthe point of said finger standsabove the plane of the upper surface of the breast-plate at the rear ofthe slot opposite the end of the finger. The forward edge of the slot atthe commencement of the deflection described is deflected at an angle ofabout forty-five degrees from the previous trend of the slot, and thestroke of the needle is such that the needle encounters by its inneredge this deflected edge a just before it comes home, and is by saidedge forced slightly aside from its normal path and thereby carried overtoward the axis of the knotter-bill, so that it lies over against thebearings of the knotter-bill spindle and the holder-spindle, and beingthus laterally restrained between the deflective edge of the cord-sloton one side and the knotter-frame on the other side is held rigidly to adefinite and unvarying path and prevented from springing or yieldinglaterally under the strain of the cord or from any other cause, thusmaking it possible to bring the binderarm home with sufficient force tocompensate for the springing of the parts of the binderframe, which mayresult from the compression of a large bulk of grain and to insure theplacing of the needle-cord where it. will be engaged by the knotter-billas the latter revolves under any and all circumstances. The deflectededge of the breast-plate slot also acts as a check to limit the strokeof the needle, preventing it from going so far forward as to interferewith the action of the knotter-bill. It will be observed that the cordrunning from the needle-eye will have encountered the same deflectingedge a before the needle encounters it, and will have been guided in thesame direction, so that the needle afterward encountering the'edge willmerely follow in alongside the cord and will not pinch it nor engageitin anyway between itself and the said deflecting edge. flection of thecord by this edge has the familiar purpose of guiding it more certainlyonto the bill. has a purpose which relates to the cord-holder and whichwill hereinafter appear. The retiring needle of course lays the cordwhose end is held in the holder over the same defiecting edge a but thisis of slight consequence, because the cord being taut, as hereinafterexplained, and running from the holder at a point which is even fartherrearward than the point at which it needs to cross the bill in order toclose the jaw, there is no opportunity for the said deflecting edge toinfluence the deflection of the cord to said position.

WVhile the bundle is being packed against the cord, which, running fromthe holder and thence over the bill, hangs over the cord-arrestingfinger A the grain frequently by reason of being thrown into the binderin. bad shape and with oblique pressure against the cord, or morefrequently by reason of the butting devices pushing it endwise after ithas rested against the cord, has a tendency to push the cordrearward-that is, toward the point of the finger. In order that thistendency may not result in dislodging the cord from the finger, I expandvertically the rear edge of the needle-slot at the deflected portion Aas byproviding said edge with the rib or flange A, the lower edge ofsaid flange forming the limit for the rearward de- The de- Thedeflection of the needle flection of the cord under the breast-plate.

Since all the pressure arising from the cause stated tending to dislodgethe cord from the finger will be experiencedbelow the breastplate and notendency of the sort will be experienced above the lowest point of thebreastplate, that being the highest point to which the grain can rise toaffect the cord, and since the cord will be taut wherever it isexperiencing the pressure of the grain, and since at the commencement ofthe deflecting tendency, if such tendency arises, the cord extendsstretched from the holder over the bill and over the finger, and whenmoved by pressure tending to dislodge it will rest against the saidflange which bounds the slot at said deflected portion, it is onlynecessary, in order that such rear pressure may be prevented from dislodging the cord from the finger, that from any point of the edge of theflange, thence over the finger, and thence to the point where the cordrests on the bill, the shortest course leads by way of a point on theedge of the finger between the end and the point where the cord willnormally rest before such disturbing rearward pressure has beenexperienced. Avertical expansion of said rear side of the slot whichshall bring thelower edge at a point opposite the finger fromthreefourths of an inch to one inch lower than the end of the finger andonly a little farther rearward than said end, will make it conform tothis requirement. This downwardly-projecting flange A, it will thus beseen, serves a purpose which has heretofore in similar constructionsbeen accomplished by causing the cord-arresting finger to overhang therear side of the breast-plate, or some projection forward therefrom. Byavoiding this latter construction I am able to cast the breast-plate inone piece, which that construction prevents, and also ease the actionand diminish the strain on the cord. The finger A is vertically expandedat its base or junction with the body of the breast-plate by adownwardlyprojecting rib a and tapers vertically toward its pointthat'is, the saidrib 0, diminishes in vertical dimension from base to pointof the finger. The foregoing description has no reference to the flangeorbead along the margin of the slot A which may be extended across thebase of the finger, as illustrated. This vertical expansion and taper ofthe finger has a tendency to cause the cord pressed against and foldedunder and vertically partly around the finger by the incoming grain toslide over toward the point of the finger, or, what is more tothepurpose, toward the plane of the knotter-bill spindle. In some respectsthis is a more desirable means of accomplishingthis result than thedeflecting edge a whose horizontal obliquity to the plane of the needlehas the same tendency.

The holder-segments E E are formed at opposite ends of a cross-head 6,having the hub E at the center, by means of which the crosshead andholder-segments are secured to the spindle e. The segments are curvedabout the axis of the spindle and extend each for about ninety degreesand are directly opposite each other, leaving, therefore, equal oppositeintervals between them. The holder revolves in the same direction as thebill,being actuated by the gear-segment O on the cam-wheel O, whichmeshes with the pinion E on the spindle e. Said pinion has twodelay-surfaces e 6- between its two equal sets of gear-teeth, whichcorrespond to the gearsegment 0 on the cam-wheel, and the camwheel hasthe delay-surface C supplementing the gear-segment O and cooperatingwith the delay-surfaces e of the pinion, so that each revolution of thecam-wheel givesto the pinion,and therefore to the holder, half arevolution, the delay-surfaces on the cam-wheel andpinion,respectively,holdingitfixedinposition in theintervals betweensaid half-revolu tions. The upstanding advance edge e of each of theholder-segments E is slightly oblique to the axis ofthe holder; but thisis not essential. Such obliquity, however, causes said edge to force thecord downward slightly when it encounters it and prevents it fromsliding up and escaping the edge. The segments are cut awayat the upperedge, comme ugjust back about half as high as at the advance edge e.

The radius of the segments is onlyjust enough greater than the radius ofthe hub E and of the holder-spindle bearing B to leave between thesegments and the hub and bearing easy room for the cord. At the positionof rest the advance edge of one segment E stands substantially in aplane through the axis of the holder transverse to the plane of theneedles path, so that the said interval between the hub and bearing onthe one side and the segment on the otheris directly in that path, andthe construction of the breast-plate, hereinabove described, consistingin providing the deflected edge a of the needle-cord slot in suchposition that the needle strikes it and is deflected by it over towardthe bearing B causes the cord to be carried down by the needle closealongside said bearing, and therefore to be unerringly laid into thespace between the bearing and the segment.

The holder-clamp E is a spring made of steel plate or sheet cut in theform of the blank shown in Fig. 12, shaped like a letter T, the stem Econstituting the supporting stem or arm of the clamp, while the cross E?is bent about an axis parallel to the stem in the are of the circle,whose radius is substantially that of the holder-segments E, and thelength of the cross E is such that when thus folded it makes about onehundred andeighty degrees of such circle. The holder-clamp is fastenedbythe bolt E to the frame back of the bearing B the boss 19 being formedfor that purpose, and the upper end of the stem being bent inwardly-thatis, toward the axis of curvature of the cross-and a V-shaped notch 5formed in the frame just above the boss b affords lodgment for theinbent end of the stem E and becomes thus 'a fulcrum or pivotal stop forthe clamp, so that as the bolt E is screwed in more or less, the clampis forced more or less closely or with more or less pressure against theholder-segment. The cross E of the clamp, as well as the stem, beingflexibly elastic, but with strong tension, said clamp is adapted toyield awayfrom the holder both by spreading the cross-arm, increasingthereby the radius of curvature, and also to yield by the springing ofthe stem to permit the cross-arm to move away from the axis of theholder-segments, and in practice the yielding ot' the stem willcorrespond quite accurately to the spreading of the cross-arm, so thatas the radius of curvature of the cross-arm is increased by suchspreading the cross-arm moves out. radially with respect to the segmentsjust enough to keep it still concentric with the segments,notwithstanding its increased radius of curva? ture. The elfect of thisform of clamp, therefore, is that substantially radial pressure isexerted upon the holdersegments at all points of the clamp and at allpositions of the clamp, as its position may be changed by cord ofvarying size carried between the segments and the clamp. The edge of theclamp at theinner end of the cross-arm E is alittle forward of the planewhich contains the axes of the knotter-spindle andholder-spindle, andhas the notch e with widely-diverging edges to receive the cord andcause it to be guided to the angle or apex of the notch, which thusdetermines the point from which the cord runs to the bill. The entireoperation of this 'knotter may now be understood. Starting with the endof the cord engaged in the holder between one of the segments and theclamp and folded around the advance edge of the segment, which thusengages it, and back between said segment and the hub of the bearing,and then out either over the upper edge of the heel portion of saidsegment or around the heel end, it not being material which position thecord assumes, although the latter is the one that will be mostfrequently assumed, and thence inward over the knotter-bill and over thecord-arresting finger down through the cord-slot in the breastplate tothe eye of the needle. The bundle being accumulated against the cord,the needle, subsequently rising to carry the cord around the bundle,will lay the cord from the spool against the deflecting edge a of theneedle-slot, by which it will be guided, as hereinabove described,rearward and will rest on the cord-arresting finger, while the needle,still advancing, will encounter said deflecting edge a and will besprung over laterally toward the bearings B? and B against which it willrest while it continues to advance, and,being thus held over againstsaid hearings, will lay the cord close alongside the bearing B down intothe space between the bearing and hub of the holder and the high advanceend of the segment E, the cord resting across the top edge of saidsegment back of the higher portion which constitutes the advance end.The 'needle has now come home. The binder-shaft now starting, thekuotter-bill first begins to revolve and wrap the cords which lie acrossit around the jaws of the bill, carrying them off the finger and aroundthe end of it in the deflected portion A of the cord-slot. The bill, itwill be observed, will in this portion of its rotation overhang for somedistance the portion of the breast-plate which bounds the said deflectedportion A of the slot at the rear side, so that the cords between thebill and the bundle will in this path of rotation of the bill be forcedonto the bill by the rear edge of the slot as the bill revolves past thesame. Just after the bill starts the gear-segment 0' engages theholder-pinion and starts the holder and the holder-segment E, betweenwhich and the hub or bearing of the holder the cords were laid, asdescribed, advances its upstanding advance edge against the cord,

which extends from the needle to the bill lying between the segment andthe bearing or hub, and carrying said cord into the notch e of the clamp6 This position of the parts is shown in Fig. l. The segment, fartherad- Vancing, folds the cord around the said advance end and carries itbetween the segment and the clamp. This segment nowtherefore holds bothcords between it and the clamp. The knotter-bill during its revolution,now almost completed, has first. drawn from the bundle as much cord asthe bundle would yield for the purpose of forming the knot, and theremainder of what it needed it has obtained by drawing theholder-cordthat is, the end of the cord which was held in the holder atthe commencement of the operation-through the holder, taking at the sametime a substantially equal amount from the spool-cord, which it hasdrawn through the eye of the needle, and after the cords are crossed onthe bill all the cord drawn by the bill must come through the holder;but the revolution of the bill is by that time nearly finished and alittle further movement causes the jaws, which have been opened in thecustomary manner during the rotation of the bill thus far, to receivebetween them the two cords running from the holder, .and after the cordsare thus engaged in the bill a slight remaining portion of the rotationof the knotter-bill causes it to strain the cords tight between it andthe holder and to close the bill onto the cords, the tension being theutmost that the detaining friction of the holder upon the cords canproduce, and, the knotter having now reached its position of rest, theholder, still revolving and letting the cords draw through it asnecessary, carries one of the knives Fof the cutter against the strainedcords and severs them both between the bill and the holder and the knotis ready to be completed by being pulled off by the bundle, and theholder comes to rest with the segment which at the commencement wasoccupied in holding the end of the cord in the position which the othersegment occupied at the commencement, and the cord running from theadvance edge of the segment which has been passing under the clamp andis now substantially wholly covered by it around between said segmentand the hub or bearing of the holder to the opposite side of said hub orbearing, and then out between the hub or bearing and the upstandingcorner of the other segment to the eye of the needle. The needle, nowretiring, carries back the cord with it and lifts it out of the spacebetween the forward holder-segment E and the bearing and lays it uponthe upperjaw of the bill, and thence further retiring lays it upon thecordarresting finger A where it is supported while the needle fullywithdraws to the position of rest. The cord, having a guide-eye H on theneedle as near as possible to its axis and having another guide-eye H onthe frame at such p0 ion that the guide-eye H moves 7 IIO somewhat awayfrom the eye H on the frame during the retiring movement of the needle,will not be slacked during this movement, but will be held taut when itis laid onto the upper jaw of the bill, and will therefore close thatjaw, thus dispensing with the springs or.

cape out of its proper position, though it may slip up over the heel andrest against the clamp, said clamp is extended up into the recess ornotch b in the frame B, the projection b of the frame extending downpast the upper corner of the holder-clamp at that point, so that thecord can by no means pass the edge of the clamp, even though it shouldpass the heel of the holder-segment, and this edge of the clamp issloped back to the notch e so that the cord, if it should slip off theheel of the segment onto the edge of the clamp, would by said slopingedge be guided down and rest against said heel at its upper corner, andthis position is a suitable one for the operation. The breast-plate isout out underneath the holder, the opening A at that 1 point exposingand giving access to the nut,

which clamps the cutter onto the holderspindle, so that the cutter canbe readily removed for sharpening, and also permitting the free escapethrough the breast-plate of the severed cord ends which the holderdrops.

It should be observed that the cross-head which connects the segments E,and bywhich they are fastened to the spindle, has only the width of thehub and bearing of the spindle, and that the entire space within thecircle de fined by the outer faces of the segments E, between the radiiwhich define the ends of said holder-segments, and outside of the circlewhich bounds the hub or bearing, is entirely open vertically, so thatthere is no lower or horizontal web of any sort between the proximateends of the two segments upon which the ends of the cord might lodge.The

- peripheral extent of the segmentsthat is,

the extent of their clamping-faces measured in the arc of theirrotation-may be greater or less. The greaterthis extent the morereliable the action of the holder and the less severe the tension of theclamp necessary to insure reliable action. The maximum amount of cordwhich could by any possibility be left as an end to be out off beyondthe-knot is determined by the distance from the notched edge of the.clamp to the position of the advance edge of the segment when it comesto rest against the clamp, for the knife revolving very near to theclampnot more than a quarter or three eighths of an inch from it--ofcourse determines the cutting-point with reference to the holder, andthe cord from the edge of the knife extends to the notch of the clampand then around inside the clamp and between it and the segment to thehead or advanceedge of the segment, and when the ricedle has retired andlaid the cord around the edge of the clamp there is in the holder ofcord which would form an end if none should be drawn out in the processof making the knot, a length double the distance from the notched edgeof the clamp to the advance edge of the segment in the clamp plus twicethe distance of the knife from the inner edge of the segment. Thetension of the clamp should be adjusted, however, so that at least halfof this cord will be drawn through the holder in the process of drawingthe knot. The end should not be released from the segment which holds itat the commencement of the knot until it has been well engaged by theother segment, which happens when said last-mentioned segment carriesthe spool-cord under the clamp just after the position shown in Fig. 4.This requisite determines the maximum useful extent of the clampviz.,such fraction of a circle as the circumferential distance between theadvance edges of consecutive segments which, when the segments used aretwo, is one hundred and eighty degrees. If the cord is released from onesegment immediately after it is engaged by the next the cord end willthen have a length a little more than the cord which would connect theadvance edges of consecutive segmentsthat is, when there are twosegments, a little more than the diameter; but part of this cord will besubsequently drawn from the holder during the finishing and tighteningof the knot, so that when it is cut off, the tension of the clamp beingas it should be and is adapted to be adjusted, the cord end willbe aboutequal to the peripheral extent of the segment-face, which is about aninch and a half, and this end, it will be observed, will at the momentof cutting lie between the segment-face and the clamp and will becarried out from under the clamp and dropped during the formation of thenext knot,and, being entirely upon the outside of the segment, will dropfreely from the same and fall through the opening A inthe breast-plate.

It will be observed that the position of rest of the holder is such thatthe edge of the segment from which the cord departs toward the bill,which substantially coincides with the receiving edge of the clamp, isremoved from the vertical plane of the incoming cord or plane of theneedles path toward the vertical plane of the knotter-bill, so that therotation of the holder causes the advancing edge of the segment whichencounters the incoming or needle cord to carry that cord toward theplane of the knotter-bill axis, as is desirable in order to assist inwrapping it on the bill,

the proximate edges of consecutive segments,

and since, as pointed out, the holder cord must not be released from theclamp by one segment before it is engaged with the clamp by the nextsegment it is essential that the clamp should have a circumferentialextent greater than said interval (since this interval is the measureof'the distance which the holder will rotate after it starts before theadvancing edge of the segment will commence to engage the cord With theclamp) and must be sufficiently greater than this interval, so thatafter a segment covered by the clamp has revolved the distance of theinterval it will still be covered by the clamp far enough to hold thecord as firmly as necessary at that stage, the stage of the operation inquestion being that which terminates in the position seen in Fig. 4,While the knotter-bill is making the first three-quarters of itsrevolution. Practically I have found that it is necessary to have theclamp extend a distance about equal to the extent of one segment and oneinterval that is, the circumferential distance from the advancing edgeof one segment to the advancing edge of the next following segment.

I claim- 1 In a cord-knotter, the knotter-bill, combined with thebreast-plate having a cord-slot and a cord-arresting finger protrudedfrom one side of the slot underneath the bill, said slot being deflectedto extend around the end of the finger, the point of the finger beingelevated above the opposite margin of the slot sufficiently to cross aline drawn from the lower edge of the opposite margin to the point wherethe cord rests on the knotter-bill and terminating in close proximity tothe vertical plane of said opposite margin, but not projecting past saidplane.

2. In a cord-knotter, the knotter-bill, combined with the breast-platehaving the cordslot and the cord-arresting finger protruded from oneside of the slot underneath the bill, said slot being deflected toextend around the end of the finger and being unobstructed verticallythroughout the whole deflected part and having its margin at saiddeflected part opposite the end of the finger vertically expanded tobring the lower edge of such expanded margin below the point of thefinger sufficiently to make a line drawn from that lower edge to thepoint where the cord rests on the knotter-bill cross said finger,substantially as set forth.

3. In a cord-knotter, the breast-plate havin g the cord-slot and thecord-arresting finger protruded from one side of the slot at the end 4.In combination with the knottcr-bill, the

holder located beyond the bill constructed and arranged to have thepoint of departure of the cord therefrom toward the bill at that side ofthe plane of the incoming cord which is toward the axis of the bill,such holder consisting of similar cylindrical segments arranged to berevolved as a unit about their common axis of curvature andcircumferentially separated by intervals greater than the distancebetween the plane of the incoming cord and the point of departure of thecord from the holder, and mechanism which rotates the holder turned tobring the same interval from which the holder-cord runs in the path ofthe incoming cord, whereby both the holder-cord and the incoming cordmay oc-' cupy the same interval between consecutive segments,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with the knotter-bill, the holder located beyond thebill constructed and arranged to have the point of departure of the cordtherefrom toward the bill at that side of the plane of the incoming cordwhich is toward the axis of the bill, such holder consisting of similarcylindrical segments arranged to be revolved as a unit about theircommon axis of curvature and circumferentially separated by intervalsgreater than the distance between the plane of the incoming cord and thepoint of departure of the cord from the holder, whereby both theholder-cord and the incoming cord may occupy the same interval betweenconsecutive segments, the clamp pressing upon the outside only of suchholder and covering greater extent of the circumference than theinterval between consecutive segments, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In combination with the knotter-bill, the holder located beyond thebill constructed and arranged to have the point of departure of the cordtherefrom toward the bill at that side of the plane of the incoming cordwhich is toward the axis of the bill,such holder consisting of similarcylindrical segments arranged to be revolved as a unit about theircommon axis of curvature and circumferentially separated by intervalsgreater than the distance between the plane of the incoming cord and thepoint of departure of the cord from the holder, whereby both theholder-cord and the incoming cord may occupy the same interval betweenconsecutive segments, the clamp pressing upon the outside only of suchholder and covering the circumference substantially to the extent of onesegment and one interval, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

7. In a cord-knotter, a holder clamp or shoe of spring metal bent in thearc of a circle and adapted to spread elastically in the plane of suchare and having an elastically-yielding stem extending from near themiddle of the curved part and secured at a distance therefrom, wherebythe curved part is adapted, also, to yield bodily away from its axis ofcurvature, substantially as set forth.

8. In a cord-holder, the holder clamp or shoe formed of a T- shapedblank of spring metal, the stem of the T being secured to'the frame andthe cross thereof bent in the arc of the circumference of the holderwith which said clamp co-operates, substantially as set forth.

9. Ina cord-holder comprising cylindrical segments constructed andarranged to be revolved about their common axis, the binderarm arrangedto lay the cord across the circumferential path of rotation of suchsegments in the interval between two consecutive segments at one sideonly of a plane con.- taining the axis of theholder and transverse tothe plane of the binder-arms movement, and a fixed clamp pressingelastically against the outside only of the segments, substantially asset forth. i

10. In a cord-kuotter, in combination with the holder comprisingcylindrical segments constructed and arranged to be revolved about theircommon axis, a clamp or shoe consisting of a spring bent in the arc ofthe outer circumference of the holdersegments and having aspring-stemextending from the middle of such are and secured at a distance from theholder, substantially as set forth.

11. A cord-holder comprising-two similar cylindrical segments locatedupon opposite sides of their common axis of curvature, and the crosshead or bar extending across said axis to connect them and arranged tobe rotated about their said axis, the angular interval between saidsegments in the cylindrical space in which they are located beingunobstructed throughout the whole height of the segments and theirconnecting cross-heads, substantially as set forth.

12. A cord-holder consisting of two cylindrical segments located uponopposite sides of their common axis of curvature and rigidly connectedtogether across said axis and arranged to be rotated thereabou t, andaclamp consisting of a spring bent in a half-circle having substantiallythe radius of said segments constructed and arranged to press yieldinglyagainst and yield bodily radially away from the outer face of saidsegments, substantially as set forth.

13. In combination, substantially as set, forth, the binder-arm and thebreast-plate having the cord-slot through which the binderarm enters,said slot having one edge deflected across the path of the needle nearthe knotter-bill, the needle being constructed and arranged to encountersaid deflected edge and be deflected thereby at the closing portion ofits advancing stroke.

14. In a cord-knotter, the binder-arm and the breast-plate having thecord-slot through which said arm enters, said slot having one edgedeflected across the path of the binderarm, said binder-arm beingconstructed and arranged to encounter said deflected-edge and bedeflected'thereby toward the latter part of its advancing stroke,combined with a knotter-frame on the opposite side of the breast platefrom that from which the arm enters, located and arranged to arrest thelateral movement of the needle caused by its encountering the deflectededge of the breastplate slot, substantially as set forth. 15. Incombination, substantially as set forth, the holder, the knotter-bill,and the binder-arm, said binder-arm having a cordguide eye near itsaxis, and a fixed cord-guide eye on the frame nearer to said guide onthe binder-arm when the latter is farthest advanced than at any otherpart of its path, whereby the retreat of the needle tends to take upslack from the cord to cause to be drawn taut across the bill to closethe same, substantially as set forth.

16. In combination with the breast-plate having the apertures a a, andthe horizontal seats located outward from said apertures, thebundle-strippers G and G consisting of rods having the offset ends andshoulders described and engaged in said apertures, said rods beinglodged in said seats, extending outward and then bent up and attached tothe frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Springfield, Ohio,in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW STARK.

IVitnesses:

HARaY I. PROTZMAN, -hIORTON G. BAIRD.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 465,436, grantedDecember 15,1891,

upon the application of Andrew Stark, of Chicago, Illinois, for animprovement in Cord Knotters for Grain Binders, an error appears in theprinted specification requiring the following correction, viz.: In line86, page 6, the Word turned should read timed,- and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein 7 that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 22d day of December, A. D. 1891.

CYRUS BUSSEY,

Assistant Secretary of the I t i Oountersigned W. E. SIMONDS,

Commissioner of Patents.

